TGIF: Thank Goodness It’s Fall (Or: This Summer Sucked.)

You know how some people have SAD (Seasonal Affectedness Disorder)? I think I have it but, because even my disorders have to be a little bit different than everyone else’s, I think I have it backwards. Summer is not my best season. And this Summer was particularly sucky.

There’s something about Summer that seems a little superficial to me. For instance, this was the first Summer since we bought our house. I had no idea how much money and time went into maintaining the outside of your house. Never in my life did I think that I would be jealous that my neighbor’s grass was a better shade of green. Who cares about that stuff? And why? A: So that our house looks nice. From the outside. Shouldn’t the inside matter more? You know, the part that you live in?? I like that about the holidays that the focus turns to warming the inside of your home to create a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere for family and other guests.

Yard work in the Summer feels like a real chore. Too hot. Too much to do. But today, I came home from work just a tad early and had enough energy to rake up the leaves that have already fallen from the huge tree in our front yard. I went inside and put on my favorite dark brown corduroy jacket and my new beautiful purple scarf which my awesome friend Vanessa knit for me for my birthday. I grabbed my work gloves and brought Chloe outside with me. And I had a great time. Working in the yard. I had a great time working. And then when Jesse got home, he and Chloe played a bit in the leaves together and it was wonderful.

Some more things to love about Fall:

• Snuggling in bed on a cold Saturday morning. Under a warm comforter with your husband and your cuddly puppy.
• The way the air smells
• Pumpkin everything: pasta, cookies, bread… face mask?
• Big comfy sweaters
• Gorgeous scenery
• Little kids in costumes
• Stealing your husband’s ultra-thick, super-warm socks
• Comfort food: Baked potato soup, Jesse’s homemade chili, pot pies
• Christmas shopping
• Hot chocolate
• Pulling the LoveSac in front of a roaring fire and napping with the hubby
• Filling up guest rooms that stay empty too often
• Church choir starts rehearsing Christmas music
• Cute boots. And scarves…the handmade kind that really good friends make for you.
• Old family traditions and beginning new ones with your own family.

So much good stuff to love! And before you know it, it will be Christmas time. And then we get to start over fresh with a new year. Full of promise and possibility. Though it’s not too late to turn things around for this year. Summer sucked, but Fall is already winning me back.

I’m back.